Sleeping pills are not meant to be a long-term solution for sleeping troubles. This is partially true because it is easy for a user to develop a sleeping pill addiction. Sleeping pills are sedative hypnotics, they slow down body functions and act similarly in the brain to alcohol.
Additionally, sleeping pills seem innocuous because, and you don’t often hear about people becoming addicted to them like with other pain killers. Sleeping pill addiction comes with side effects and withdrawal that can affect a person’s sleep patterns for a long time. If you or a loved one experiences addiction to one of the many sleeping pills on the market, consider getting help from addiction treatment services.
Sleeping Pill Addiction Signs
People addicted to sleeping pills will display some outright irregularities that are specific to sleeping pill abuse. They usually do not start off too bad and then become worse a time passes. Likewise, these side effects can make everyday life dangerous for the person using sleeping pills since they are more prone to falling and often have poor nutrition that can lead to broken bones. Signs include:
- Trouble concentrating
- Speaking with a slur
- Unsteady on feet
- Poor short-term memory
- Seemingly random periods of euphoria
If you or a loved one are experiencing these symptoms during waking hours while not taking sleeping medication, or if you are taking the medication at unprescribed times, you should seriously consider seeking help. Taking sleeping pills beyond what has been prescribed or for long periods of time can be dangerous. Women’s addiction treatment programs are available to provide the help you need.
The Dangers of Sleeping Pill Addiction
Taking sleeping pills long-term or even for certain patients can cause them to develop what are called parasomnias. A parasomnia is when you go about daily activities while you are sleeping. You may have heard of sleepwalking or even sleep-eating. But people have been known to do things like get into their cars and sleep-drive or engage in sleep-sex. All of these can result in dangerous circumstances, if you experience anything like this, you should talk to your doctor and stop taking your sleeping medicines right away. Other side effects of sleeping pills are:
- Needing pill to fall to sleep each night
- Uncoordinated
- Needing more to get to sleep
- Running out of pills before the prescription is up
- Taking medicine without intending to sleep
Additionally, you can experience loss of memory, dry mouth, shallow breathing, unusual dreams, and dizziness.
These side effects can become worse, the longer a person uses the drugs, and the more addicted they become. People that have a deeply ingrained need for sleeping pills will likely benefit the most from a rehab situation and long-term counseling. Just like any other addiction, addiction to sleeping pills is no joke. If you or a loved one are abusing sleeping and alcohol or other drugs on top of that, you are putting yourself in a very dangerous situation.
Treatment for Sleeping Pill Addiction
There are many Ambien addiction programs out there. Ambien is the sleeping pill that has been in the news a lot lately. This particular drug tends to give people parasomnias when they are trying to sedate themselves for things like airplane rides.
The Soledad House offers a range of therapies for sleeping pill addictions. We offer inpatient and outpatient programs to help people fight their addiction and live the life they deserve. Call us today at 866.314.3222 to find out more about how we can help you be the person that you want.
